Wire coral crab

Scientific name : Xenocarcinus tuberculatus

Decorator crab with a conycal carapace, long and wide rostrum, shiny and covered with large spines. Irregularly striped colour pattern. Very long legs bracing the hosts branches. Carapace lenght 2.5 cm.
In association with Anthipates it could be confused with Xenocarcinus conicus. The latter has no spines on the carapace.

Associated organisms
Associated with black corals, usually with the wire corals (gen. Cirrhipates) but also with gen. Anthipates. The habit to collect and cover itself with coral polyps improves the camouflage.